HarperCollins Study Bible, page 383
49.11–13 Three leaders of the return (537 BCE) and restoration are praised.
49.11–12 Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah when Cyrus, king of Persia, captured Babylon and gave his famous edict that the Jews could return to Jerusalem and rebuild their temple (537 BCE), and Jeshua, the high priest at the time, are mentioned in Hag 1.1–2, 8, 12; 2.2. Cf. Zech 3–4. The description of Zerubbabel as like a signet ring is taken from Hag 2.23.
49.13 Nehemiah is remembered for rebuilding the city walls. See Neh 2.17–7.3; 13.14, 22, 31. Somewhat curiously, Ben Sira does not mention Ezra the scribe. See Ezra 7–10.
49.14–16 Six additional figures are briefly mentioned as worthy of praise, four from the preflood period. The significance of the unit is unclear because it breaks the sequence of the epic history and ascribes honor for reasons not noted as glorious elsewhere in Sirach. It may have been a later addition to the poem. For Enoch’s being taken up, see Gen 5.24; cf. Wis 4.10–14; Heb 11.5. For the burial of Joseph, see Gen 50.25–26; cf. Ex 13.9; Josh 24.32. Of the three sons of Noah, Shem was blessed as the forefather of Abraham. See Gen 9.18–27; 11.10–26. Seth and Enosh provide the first two genealogical links from Adam to Noah. See Gen 5.1–25; cf. Gen 4.25. That Adam is honored above all seems out of place in Sirach. Such an idealization is not otherwise documented until a somewhat later time. Cf. Wis 10.1; Lk 3.38; Philo of Alexandria, On the Creation 88.
SIRACH 50
Simon Son of Onias
1The leader of his brothers and the pride of his peoplea
was the high priest, Simon son of Onias,
who in his life repaired the house,
and in his time fortified the temple.
2He laid the foundations for the high double walls,
the high retaining walls for the temple enclosure.
3In his days a water cistern was dug,b
a reservoir like the sea in circumference.
4He considered how to save his people from ruin,
and fortified the city against siege.
5How glorious he was, surrounded by the people,
as he came out of the house of the curtain.
6Like the morning star among the clouds,
like the full moon at the festal season;c
7like the sun shining on the temple of the Most High,
like the rainbow gleaming in splendid clouds;
8like roses in the days of first fruits,
like lilies by a spring of water,
like a green shoot on Lebanon on a summer day;
9like fire and incense in the censer,
like a vessel of hammered gold
studded with all kinds of precious stones;
10like an olive tree laden with fruit,
and like a cypress towering in the clouds.
11When he put on his glorious robe
and clothed himself in perfect splendor,
when he went up to the holy altar,
he made the court of the sanctuary glorious.
12When he received the portions from the hands of the priests,
as he stood by the hearth of the altar
with a garland of brothers around him,
he was like a young cedar on Lebanon
surrounded by the trunks of palm trees.
13All the sons of Aaron in their splendor
held the Lord’s offering in their hands
before the whole congregation of Israel.
14Finishing the service at the altars,d
and arranging the offering to the Most High, the Almighty,
15he held out his hand for the cup
and poured a drink offering of the blood of the grape;
he poured it out at the foot of the altar,
a pleasing odor to the Most High, the king of all.
16Then the sons of Aaron shouted;
they blew their trumpets of hammered metal;
they sounded a mighty fanfare
as a reminder before the Most High.
17Then all the people together quickly
fell to the ground on their faces
to worship their Lord,
the Almighty, God Most High.
18Then the singers praised him with their voices
in sweet and full-toned melody.e
19And the people of the Lord Most High offered
their prayers before the Merciful One,
until the order of worship of the Lord was ended,
and they completed his ritual.
20Then Simonf came down and raised his hands
over the whole congregation of Israelites,
to pronounce the blessing of the Lord with his lips,
and to glory in his name;
21and they bowed down in worship a second time,
to receive the blessing from the Most High.
A Benediction
22And now bless the God of all,
who everywhere works great wonders,
who fosters our growth from birth,
and deals with us according to his mercy.
23May he give usg gladness of heart,
and may there be peace in ourh days
in Israel, as in the days of old.
24May he entrust to us his mercy,
and may he deliver us in ouri days!
Epilogue
25Two nations my soul detests,
and the third is not even a people:
26Those who live in Seir,j and the Philistines,
and the foolish people that live in Shechem.
27Instruction in understanding and knowledge
I have written in this book,
Jesus son of Eleazar son of Sirachk of Jerusalem,
whose mind poured forth wisdom.
28Happy are those who concern themselves with these things,
and those who lay them to heart will become wise.
29For if they put them into practice, they will be equal to anything,
for the fearl of the Lord is their path.
next chapter
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a Heb Syr: Gk lacks this line. Compare 49.15
b Heb: Meaning of Gk uncertain
c Heb: Meaning of Gk uncertain
d Other ancient authorities read altar
e Other ancient authorities read in sweet melody throughout the house
f Gk he
g Other ancient authorities read you
h Other ancient authorities read your
i Other ancient authorities read his
j Heb Compare Lat: Gk on the mountain of Samaria
k Heb: Meaning of Gk uncertain
l Heb: Other ancient authorities read light
50.1–24 Simon the high priest is praised for his leadership (v. 1), fortification of the temple (vv. 1–4), glorious appearance in the court of the temple (vv. 5–11), performance of the daily sacrifice (vv. 12–19), and pronouncement of the blessing (vv. 20–21).
50.1 Simon son of Onias, called Simon the Just in later tradition, was high priest from 219 to 196 BCE That he repaired the house (temple; cf. Josephus, Antiquities 12.141) following Seleucid-Ptolemaic struggles for control of Judea is reminiscent of Hezekiah’s glory (48.17). This achievement subtly attributes royal functions to him and emphasizes Ben Sira’s ideal of a high-priestly ruler in Israel.
50.5–11 Simon’s glorious appearance is described in terms reminiscent both of Aaron’s glory (45.8–13) and wisdom’s flourishing (24.13–17).
50.5 The house of the curtain, the temple; Ben Sira recalls the tent, or tabernacle, in the wilderness. The Hebrew for v. 5a reads “How glorious he was as he looked out from the tent” (instead of the Greek surrounded by the people), using the term that refers to the tent in the wilderness (Ex 26.33). No curtain or veil is mentioned for Solomon’s temple in 1 Kings 6, but was added to its description in 2 Chr 3.14. See also 1 Macc 1.21–23; Mk 15.38; Heb 10.20; Josephus, Antiquities 3.124–25.
50.11 The high priest’s robe was frequently described at great length, and its symbols were allegorized by later writers such as Philo of Alexandria; cf. Ex 28.2–43; 39.1–31; Wis 18.24; Josephus, Antiquities 3.151–78. Perfect splendor. See 45.8.
50.12–21 Simon’s service at the altars closely parallels the description of the daily whole offering in Mishnah Tamid 6.3–7.3.
50.13 Sons of Aaron, the priests.
50.15 On the drink offering as a libation, cf. Num 28.7; Josephus, Antiquities 3.234.
50.16 Trumpets of hammered metal. See Num 10.2.
50.18 Singers. See 2 Chr 29.26–30.
50.20 The blessing of the high priest conferred peace in the name of the Lord. Cf. Lev 9.22–23; Num 6.24–27.
50.22–24 Ben Sira adds his own benediction and prayer for peace. The Hebrew differs from the Greek; it includes a prayer for God’s “lasting kindness toward Simon” and for fulfillment of “the covenant with Phinehas” (cf. 45.23–25), items that may have been deleted by the grandson as embarrassing or dangerous in the light of the violent end to the Zadokite line of high priests that had occurred in the meantime. Onias III, Simon’s son, had been deposed and murdered (2 Macc 4.34); Menelaus, who was not from a priestly family, had been installed as high priest by Antiochus IV; and the Maccabean wars had produced the Hasmonean dynasty of priest-kings. Thus it was obvious that Ben Sira’s prayer had not been answered.
50.25–29 An epilogue and signature conclude Ben Sira’s book of instruction.
50.26 The detested nations are those that bordered Judea to the south (Seir), the west (Philistines), and the north (Shechem), but they are referred to by archaic designations. Those who live in Seir were the Edomites, known in Ben Sira’s time as Idumeans. Shechem was the old center of the Northern Kingdom and a euphemism for Samaria in Ben Sira’s time. The Philistines were the ancient occupants of the land and enemies during the time of the judges and the early kings; Ben Sira probably alludes to the Hellenistic cities along the seacoast.
SIRACH 51
PRAYER OF JESUS SON OF SIRACHa
1I give you thanks, O Lord and King,
and praise you, O God my Savior.
I give thanks to your name,
2for you have been my protector and helper
and have delivered me from destruction
and from the trap laid by a slanderous tongue,
from lips that fabricate lies.
In the face of my adversaries
you have been my helper 3and delivered me,
in the greatness of your mercy and of your name,
from grinding teeth about to devour me,
from the hand of those seeking my life,
from the many troubles I endured,
4from choking fire on every side,
and from the midst of fire that I had not kindled,
5from the deep belly of Hades,
from an unclean tongue and lying words—
6the slander of an unrighteous tongue to the king.
My soul drew near to death,
and my life was on the brink of Hades below.
7They surrounded me on every side,
and there was no one to help me;
I looked for human assistance,
and there was none.
8Then I remembered your mercy, O Lord,
and your kindnessb from of old,
for you rescue those who wait for you
and save them from the hand of their enemies.
9And I sent up my prayer from the earth,
and begged for rescue from death.
10I cried out, “Lord, you are my Father;c
do not forsake me in the days of trouble,
when there is no help against the proud.
11I will praise your name continually,
and will sing hymns of thanksgiving.”
My prayer was heard,
12for you saved me from destruction
and rescued me in time of trouble.
For this reason I thank you and praise you,
and I bless the name of the Lord.
Heb adds:
Give thanks to the LORD,
for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever;
Give thanks to the God of praises,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
Give thanks to the guardian of Israel,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
Give thanks to him who formed all things,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
Give thanks to the redeemer of Israel,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
Give thanks to him who gathers the dispersed of Israel,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
Give thanks to him who rebuilt his city and his sanctuary,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
Give thanks to him who makes a horn to sprout for the house of David,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
Give thanks to him who has chosen the sons of Zadok to be priests,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
Give thanks to the shield of Abraham,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
Give thanks to the rock of Isaac,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
Give thanks to the mighty one of Jacob,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
Give thanks to him who has chosen Zion,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
Give thanks to the King of the kings of kings,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
He has raised up a horn for his people,
praise for all his loyal ones.
For the children of Israel, the people close to him.
Praise the LORD!
Autobiographical Poem on Wisdom
13While I was still young, before I went on my travels,
I sought wisdom openly in my prayer.
14Before the temple I asked for her,
and I will search for her until the end.
15From the first blossom to the ripening grape
my heart delighted in her;
my foot walked on the straight path;
from my youth I followed her steps.
16I inclined my ear a little and received her,
and I found for myself much instruction.
17I made progress in her;
to him who gives wisdom I will give glory.
18For I resolved to live according to wisdom,d
and I was zealous for the good,
and I shall never be disappointed.
19My soul grappled with wisdom,e
and in my conduct I was strict;f
I spread out my hands to the heavens,
and lamented my ignorance of her.
20I directed my soul to her,
and in purity I found her.
With her I gained understanding from the first;
therefore I will never be forsaken.
21My heart was stirred to seek her;
therefore I have gained a prize possession.
22The Lord gave me my tongue as a reward,
and I will praise him with it.
23Draw near to me, you who are uneducated,
and lodge in the house of instruction.
24Why do you say you are lacking in these things,g
and why do you endure such great thirst?
25I opened my mouth and said,
Acquire wisdomh for yourselves without money.
26Put your neck under heri yoke,
and let your souls receive instruction;
it is to be found close by.
27See with your own eyes that I have labored but little
and found for myself much serenity.
28Hear but a little of my instruction,
and through me you will acquire silver and gold.j
29May your soul rejoice in God’sk mercy,
and may you never be ashamed to praise him.
30Do your work in good time,
and in his own time Godl will give you your reward.
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a This title is included in the Gk text.
b Other ancient authorities read work
c Heb: Gk the Father of my lord
d Gk her
e Gk her
f Meaning of Gk uncertain
g Cn Compare Heb Syr: Meaning of Gk uncertain
h Heb: Gk lacks wisdom
i Heb: other ancient authorities read the
j Syr Compare Heb: Gk Get instruction with a large sum of silver, and you will gain by it much gold.
k Gk his
l Gk he
51.1–12 A psalm of thanksgiving for deliverance from adversity is appended to the book of instruction. Its authenticity has been questioned, but nothing about its form or content suggests that Ben Sira could not have written it.
Between 51.12 and 51.13 The hymn of praise positioned between vv. 12 and 13 is not included in the Greek or Syriac manuscripts and is therefore difficult to attribute to Ben Sira. It is composed as a litany in the style of Ps 136 and contains features that suggest Essene provenance. These include the epithet God of praises, designations in the banner style such as shield of Abraham and rock of Isaac and the notice of Zadokite loyalty.
51.13–30 An autobiographical poem with an erotic tinge on the author’s quest for wisdom (vv. 13–22) leads to an invitation to join him in receiving her instruction (vv. 23–30). A manuscript containing the first half of the poem (vv. 13–20a) discovered among the Dead Sea Scrolls (Psalms Scroll [11QPsa]) shows that the original Hebrew was an acrostic, a feature that was obscured in later transcriptions and translations. The language of seeking and finding wisdom resonates with the poetry of personified wisdom in chs. 1, 4, 6, 14, 15, and 24.
